This contribution discusses two case studies that illustrate the experiences of mobility students who were studying abroad during the first outbreak of COVID19. The case studies have emerged from a larger longitudinal, mixed-method study, which included an interview study with six international students planned for spring 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all participants had to terminate their stay early. Hence, the original interview study was adapted to focus on the impact of COVID-19 on students' social contacts, linguistic practices, and emotional well-being in these exceptional circumstances. In the present contribution, we understand study abroad as a rite of passage, an important time in the life of young adults, and we draw on insights from previous research on educational travels with transformative potential to make sense of the students' differing reactions to their early return.